Post by chikkuntakos on Mar 2, 2020 5:19:59 GMT -5
Hello!...
So my ~15 y/o gray goldfish has been alive and kicking since the last time I posted on the forum, but he's been really out-of-it since I did a MB bath/dip earlier this afternoon. (Finally mustered up the courage to do the darn bath/swab... But more like I was scared into doing it, due to my fish recently appearing to slowly decompensate with additional illnesses.)
The plastic bin I used to capture/ hold the fish probably had 1.25 gallons of tank water. I didn't count the # of MB drops; initially I intended 2-3 but it kind of came out in a dribble in my hurry. I also added ~0.625 tsp aquarium salt and 0.25 tsp Epsom salt (pre-dissolved while setting up for the ordeal).
Question #1. Has anyone ever encountered difficulties when trying to swab/scrub off a white infected patch on a fish? (Suspected Saprolegnia or columnaris) I kept my fish in a MB bath while trying to swab off the white patch on its vent (and a small growth on its lip), but it wouldn't come off!!
I first used a squishy makeup sponge doused with AAP Wound Control; when that did nothing I tried a cotton square drenched in AAP Wound Control for a little more friction; when that didn't work I grabbed a soft toothbrush that had been dipped in Wound Control... And after all my efforts I can't say I really saw any significant results. The weirdest thing when using the toothbrush... It was as if the white patch was buried underneath a very stubborn slime coat that would never thin out!
Granted, when using the toothbrush I didn't use much force because my fish's belly felt super distended. I expected to brush against a solid surface, but was shocked when it felt like I was brushing a blob of Jell-O. Maybe I could've scrubbed harder, but I worried that if I did so, I'd accidentally crush or distend one of its internal organs or something. Should I attempt another surface swab with different technique or more force, or is this normal?
Question #2. Due to how distended my fish's belly is, and how much more bloated he appears in photos compared to a month ago despite attempted treatments with various antibiotics (and slightly reduced food portions in case I'd been overfeeding), I suspect he's in a pre-dropsy state despite the lack of pineconing and his zeal for food. Or maybe he actually has dropsy, and is just the early stages.
Does anyone know if MB/ epsom salt baths/dips a good or bad idea for palliative care, if this poor fish is nearing the end of the road? I can't imagine being super bloated is comfortable. I was thinking of attempting another MB dip, only without aquarium salt for next time to see if he tolerates that better...
Question #3. Since I'm here... Anyone have a clue what these white splotches on its scales are? (attached) This is a pretty recent development, probably within the last week or so. I've been giving full-strength Paraguard, which my fish now seems to tolerate just fine ever since I gave up on getting aquarium salt to a recommended prophylactic level. Not sure if the Paraguard is doing anything, but due to suspecting that my fish has an ich infection, I had been planning to go for Seachem's 28-day treatment recommendation per their website.
Thank you for reading this post and for any insight you might have!
So my ~15 y/o gray goldfish has been alive and kicking since the last time I posted on the forum, but he's been really out-of-it since I did a MB bath/dip earlier this afternoon. (Finally mustered up the courage to do the darn bath/swab... But more like I was scared into doing it, due to my fish recently appearing to slowly decompensate with additional illnesses.)
The plastic bin I used to capture/ hold the fish probably had 1.25 gallons of tank water. I didn't count the # of MB drops; initially I intended 2-3 but it kind of came out in a dribble in my hurry. I also added ~0.625 tsp aquarium salt and 0.25 tsp Epsom salt (pre-dissolved while setting up for the ordeal).
Question #1. Has anyone ever encountered difficulties when trying to swab/scrub off a white infected patch on a fish? (Suspected Saprolegnia or columnaris) I kept my fish in a MB bath while trying to swab off the white patch on its vent (and a small growth on its lip), but it wouldn't come off!!
I first used a squishy makeup sponge doused with AAP Wound Control; when that did nothing I tried a cotton square drenched in AAP Wound Control for a little more friction; when that didn't work I grabbed a soft toothbrush that had been dipped in Wound Control... And after all my efforts I can't say I really saw any significant results. The weirdest thing when using the toothbrush... It was as if the white patch was buried underneath a very stubborn slime coat that would never thin out!
Granted, when using the toothbrush I didn't use much force because my fish's belly felt super distended. I expected to brush against a solid surface, but was shocked when it felt like I was brushing a blob of Jell-O. Maybe I could've scrubbed harder, but I worried that if I did so, I'd accidentally crush or distend one of its internal organs or something. Should I attempt another surface swab with different technique or more force, or is this normal?
Question #2. Due to how distended my fish's belly is, and how much more bloated he appears in photos compared to a month ago despite attempted treatments with various antibiotics (and slightly reduced food portions in case I'd been overfeeding), I suspect he's in a pre-dropsy state despite the lack of pineconing and his zeal for food. Or maybe he actually has dropsy, and is just the early stages.
Does anyone know if MB/ epsom salt baths/dips a good or bad idea for palliative care, if this poor fish is nearing the end of the road? I can't imagine being super bloated is comfortable. I was thinking of attempting another MB dip, only without aquarium salt for next time to see if he tolerates that better...
Question #3. Since I'm here... Anyone have a clue what these white splotches on its scales are? (attached) This is a pretty recent development, probably within the last week or so. I've been giving full-strength Paraguard, which my fish now seems to tolerate just fine ever since I gave up on getting aquarium salt to a recommended prophylactic level. Not sure if the Paraguard is doing anything, but due to suspecting that my fish has an ich infection, I had been planning to go for Seachem's 28-day treatment recommendation per their website.
Thank you for reading this post and for any insight you might have!